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Musicians coalition pushes to end smoking in bars
A coalition of musicians is pushing to end smoking in Nashville’s bars and music venues, the latest in a long line of efforts that have typically failed. Tennessee passed a smoking ban in 2007, but included a carve-out for establishments with under-21 age restrictions. Musicians for Smokefree Nashville are seeking to ban smoking in bars […]
Nashville’s COVID hotspots include facilities for kids in DCS custody
Among the Nashville COVID-19 hotspots disclosed by the city’s health department on Monday are three facilities in or near downtown where the majority of positive cases have been found not among honky tonk patrons or nursing home residents but in children in the custody of the Department of Children’s Services. At Hermitage Hall, an Eighth […]
Commentary: Election Acceptance is Not Trump’s Call
Some people have asked an odd question: what happens if Donald Trump loses the presidential election but doesn’t acknowledge defeat or leave the White House? The short answer is that those things are not up to him. After Joe Biden take his oath of office at noon on January 20, 2021, Trump is a noisy […]
Election 2020: In District 7, political newcomer takes on incumbent Green
Democrat Kiran Sreepada thinks he has what it takes to unseat entrenched Republican Congressman Mark Green to represent the people of Tennessee District 7 in the U.S. House of Representatives. It’s a tough battle, Green is running to his second term with political momentum on his side. Green is a popular, and familiar, character in Tennessee […]
Audit critical of Tennesee’s economic incentive program after companies failed to create promised jobs
Nine companies lured to do business in Tennessee with generous economic incentive packages have been referred to the Tennessee Attorney General for possible legal action after failing to live up to their end of the bargain, Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe told lawmakers this week in response to a critical audit of the […]
Comptroller: Two Memphis nonprofits who received thousands in federal dollars lied about feeding low-income kids
In 2018, suspicion had grown about a Memphis child care organization that was supposed to be distributing food to low-income children who were out of school for the summer — food paid for by taxpayer funds in a program overseen in Tennessee by the state’s Department of Human Services. Red Robin’s Academy of Learning had […]
In Rutherford County, incumbent and challenger face off for second time
In 2018, the Tennessee House of Representatives race in District 49 was decided by just 1,041 votes. Rep. Mike Sparks, the Republican incumbent first elected in 2010, beat Democrat Chris Mayor by five percent. In 2016, Sparks, who was first elected in 2010, beat Democrat Brandon Thomas by a margin of 61%-39%. Sparks and Thomas […]
As Tennessee prepares to distribute $61M in broadband grants, an audit questions fairness of the grant application process
Over three years, state officials have awarded more than $45 million in grants to municipalities and private companies to expand broadband internet access in rural Tennessee. An audit released Tuesday by the Tennessee Comptroller is now raising questions about how the Department of Economic and Community Development selected who was awarded the highly competitive grants. […]
Referendum proposal on shaky legal footing before Election Commission vote
A referendum that would give Nashville voters the ability to approve property tax increases and bond issuances is on shaky legal footing before it ever gets added to the ballot. The Metro Department of Law, led by Director Bob Cooper, has advised the Election Commission not to put the referendum on the ballot in December […]
Nashville celebrates El Dia de Independence
For many of Nashville’s citizens, Sept. 16 is a cause for celebration. Tennessee’s population has boomed over the last decade, with droves of immigrants seeking to build a new home far from their countries of origin. Following the 2009 bipartisan movement to shoot down an effort to make the city’s language “English Only,” immigrant communities […]
Nashville prepares for Hispanic Heritage Month
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage month, Nashville will conduct a series of ceremonies in collaboration with local immigrant-advocate groups and conclude with a limited festival Sunday. Typically, Nashville celebrates Hispanic heritage festively, Nashville mayoral staff member Fabian Bedne said Thursday. Although the pandemic has disrupted many annual large-scale celebrations, the city still plans on […]
State senator proposes court for “harassing” open records requests
A proposal by Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, would allow state and local authorities to take individuals seeking public records to court if their repeated requests for government information is found to constitute “harassment.” Haile sought input on his proposed legislation Wednesday from the the Advisory Committee on Open Government, which works with the Tennessee Office of […]